Role of Regional and International Powers

Abstract

The unending Syrian civil war has involved every major and regional power against the Assad regime. Except for Russia and Iran, their active military involvement against a sovereign country, with a legally constituted government, has thrown overboard the cardinal UN principle of non-interference in internal affairs of states. Russian and Iranian participation on the side of the government has helped the Assad regime to regain the country. It has divided the UN Security Council, and the General Assembly, making Syria the septic focus of a world order in change. Both camps have thrown to the wind the founding UN Security Council principles and international law that these very powers have applied, during the last seven decades, to international crises. It has demonstrated the increasing self-serving use, by its permanent members, of the Security Council. The chapter delves deeper into the motivations and role of the countries actively involved: France, Iran, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States.